Key case



May 2l, 1 940- .1.c. DAwsoN, JR 2,201,850

KEY CASE Filed latch 30. 1939 Patented May 21, 1940 UNITED -sTATEs KEY James C. Dawson, Jr.,

CASE

Kirkwood, Mo., assignor to Leah L. Gardner, University City, Mo.

Application March 30,

8 Claims.

This invention relates to key cases.

Objects of the invention are to provide an improved device for supporting and enclosing keys comprising a supporting section of appropriate material having attached to one end of aA middle panel thereof a metallic plate provided with a transverse portion having circumferential or elongated slots receiving the shanks of key hooks or hangers and a device supported for sliding movements with respect to said plate and in directions toward and from one side of said formed portion to prevent and permit detachment of said hooks or hangers, respectively; to provide a guide in connection with said plate for said device, holding and guiding the same in its movements; to provide a spring in connection with said device and said plate for actuating said device to a position to prevent detachment of the hooks or hangers; and to provide a construction permitting manual operation of said device to a position to permit detachment of the hooks or hangers froin the support.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hook or hanger for a key comprising a resilient rod or wire having overlapping portions, and novel interlocking formation for said overlapping portions to retain them in proper relationship to hold a key in permanent engagement therewith.

Other objects will appear from the following description, reference being made to the annexed drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is an open plan View of my improved key case having a number of detachable hooks or hangers in pivotal connection therewith.

Fig. 2 is a view showing the key case closed.

' Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the vdevice which pivotally supports the key hooks or hangers.

' Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the key case along thel line 4-4 'of Fig. 1, showing thevkey supporting device in end elevation.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the key supporting device along the line 5--5 of Fig. 1. Figs. 6 and '7 are sectional views along the lines 6-1 -of Fig. 1, Fig. 6 showing the parts in position to prevent .detachment of the key hooks or hangers, and Fig. 7 showing the parts inposition to permit attachment or detachment of the key hooks or hangers.

Theh case proper is composed of a section of flexible material such as leather having fold lines I and 2 defining a middle panel 3, a side flap 4, and a side flap 5 provided with engageable and releasable fastening devices 6 and 1. This permits the key case to be opened as shown in Fig. 1, r to be closed and held in closed position by 1939, sei-iai No. 264301 (ci. 70-456i A plate is bent and shaped to provide a at portion 8, a parallel flat portion 9, and an integral tubular portion I0 in connection with and extending from the upper edge of the part 8 to the upper edge of the part 9. 'A series of circumferential parallel slots I I are formed in the tubular portion I0 and'extend approximately from the part 8 to the part 9 and haveat their lower ends enlarged holes I2. A notch I3 is formed in the lower edges of the parts 8 and 9 of the plate and is Wide enough to permit a finger or thumb of the user to enter.

A plate I4 is mounted for lateral, as distinguished from longitudinal, sliding. movements between the parts 8 and S-and has its ends adjacent to the end Walls I formed by bending laterally the ends of the part 9. This plate I4 extends approximately the full distance between the end walls I5 and, consequently, is held from longitudinal displacement by the guide thus formed but is free to move laterally. The plate I4 extends into the tubular portion I0 and has an outwardly extended flange I8 which extends across and entirely covers and closes the holes I2 when the plate I4 is in one of its positions, as shown in Fig. 5. The flange I8 has in connection therewith a number of upwardly projecting fingers I'I which extend toward the opposite side of the tubular part I0 from the'holes I2. A spring I8 is mounted on one of the fingers II (Figs. 6 and 7) having one end abutting against the flange I6 and the opposite end against the opposite side of the tubular part I0. This spring acts to press the plate I4 downwardly to a position in which the flange I6 `is against the surface of that part of the tubular poition II) through which the holes I2 are-formed, thereby closing said holes I2. In this position, the plate I4 extends across the notch I3 and may be easily engaged by a thumb or nger 4of the user and moved upwardly in opposition to the spring I8 a suilicientv distance to open the holes I2 (Fig. 7).

My `improved key hook or hanger comprises a resilient section o wire or rod bent and shaped to form a shank I 9, a loop 20 integrally connected with the shank I9 by a curved portion 2|, and an extension 22 of the loop I9 engageable in and releasable from the curved seating portion 2|. When the extended end portion 22 of the loop 20 is seated in the curved seating portion 2| as shown, the inherent resiliency of the loop device is utilized to press said extended portion 22 closely into and against the curved seat 2l in a relatlonship in which said portion 22 is approximately against and parallel with the shank I9. However, by applying pressure thereto, the extended end portion 22 may be disengaged from the curved seat 2| and the hook or hanger opened to permit attachment or removal of a key. A head 23 is formed integral with the end of the shank I9 of a diameter to pass freelythrough any one of the holes I2 but incapable of passing through any of the slots II. To attach a hanger or hook to the device, the plate I4 is pressed upwardly to the position shown in Fig. 7 and the head 23 is passed through the hole I2 and the hook or hanger is then swung about the axis of the tubular part IU to permit the spring I8 to actuate the plate I4 and flange I6 to closed position, as in Figs. '5 and 6. It is then impossible for the hook or hanger to become detached from its support until the plate I4 and flange I6 are again moved to open position.

The hanger device is attached to the upper edge of the panel 3 by eyelet rivets 24 passing through holes in the plate parts 8 and 9 and through the panel 3. Th plate I4 is formed with elongated slots 25 (Fig. 3) through which the eyelet rivets 24 extend. These slots permit the plate I4 to be moved easily to open and to close the holes I2 for the attachment or detachment of the hangers.

The construction and arrangement of the parts may be varied within the scope of equivalent limits without departure from the nature and principle of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a key case having a section of flexible material forming an enclosure, a plate attached to one end of said section, a tubular part in connection with said plate having circumferential slots and enlarged holes at the lower ends of said slots, means forming a guide extending laterally beyond said plate below said tubular part, a plate mounted for sliding movements in said guide laterally of said tubular part and held from movements longitudinally of said tubular part by said guide, a flange in connection with said plate in said tubular part movable to position to close ane tc open said holes, and key hooks or hangers inertable through said holes and having shanks extending through said slotsand pivotally engaging the inner side of said tubular part for swinging movements about the axis thereof and held away from Said holes by said flange.

2. In a key case comprising a section of flexible material forming an enclosure, a tubular support attached to one marginal edge of said section and having circumferential f slots each of which is provided with an enlarged hole at one end, key hangers insertable through said holes and extending through said slots and pivotally engaging the inner side of said tubular support forswinging movements about the axis thereof, a guide attached to and extending laterally from said tubular support, a plate mountedl for sliding movements in said guide laterally of said tubular support and held from movements longitudinally of said tubular support by said guide, a flange attached to said plate within said guide for opening and closing said holes, and a spring for holding said plate in a position in which said flange closes said holes and prevents detachment of said key hangers from said support.

3. In a key case comprising a section of flexible material, a tubular support attached to the upper marginal edge of said section and having a number of slots each of which is provided with an enlarged hole at its lower end, key hangers insertable through said holes and extending through said slots and having heads pivotally engaging the inner side of said tubular support and leaving said hangers free for swinging movements about the axis of said support, a guide extending laterally from said support, a plate mounted for sliding movements in said guide laterally of said tubular support and held from movements longitudinally of said tubular support by said guide and having its upper edge extending into said support, a flange in connection with the upper edge of said plate within said guide for opening and closing said holes, and a spring for holding said plate in a position in which said flange closes said holes and prevents said hangers from entering the same.

4. In a key case comprising a section of flexible material foldable to form an enclosure and including a middle panel, a plate attached to said middle panel near the upper margin thereof, a tubular support rigid with the upper edge of said plate and having slots therein at right angles to the axis of said support and each of which is provided with an enlarged hole at one end, key hangers insertable through said holes and extending through said slots and pivotally engaging the inner side of said support for swinging movements about the axis thereof, means in connection with said plate forming a guide extending laterally below said support, a plate mounted for sliding movements in said guide laterally of said tubular support and held from movements longitudinally of said tubular support by said guide for opening and closing said holes, and a spring yieldingly holding said plate in a position to close said holes and prevent said hangers from entering the same.

5. In a key case comprising a section of flexible material forming an enclosure, a rigid plate attached to said section adjacent to one marginal edge thereof, -a tubular support rigid with said plate and having relatively long circumferential slots each of which is provided with an enlarged hole at its lower end, key hangers insertable through said holes and extending through said slots and pivotally engaging the inner side of said support for swinging movements along said slots about the axis of said support, a laterally extended guide rigid with said plate below said support, a closure plate for said holes mounted for sliding movements in said guide laterally of said tubular support and held from movements longitudinally of said tubular support by said guide, and a spring in said guide actuating said plate to a position to close said holes and prevent said hangers from entering the same.

6. In a key case, a section of supporting material, a` rigid plate attached to one margin of said section, a tubular support integral with said plate and having circumferential slots therein, means rigid with said plate forming a guide extending laterally a substantial distance below said tubular support, a plate mounted for sliding movements in said guide laterally of said tubular support and held from movements longitudinally of said tubular support by said guide and extending into said support, means for moving said plate laterally to a position to close one end of said slots, and key hangers extending through said slots into said support and being engaged with said second plate and with said support.

7. In a key case comprising a section of material, a tubular support attached to one marginal portion of said section and having a series of circumferential slots each of which is provided with an enlarged hole at one end, key hangers lnsertable -through said holes and extending through said slots and inner side of said tubular support for swinging movements about the axis thereof,l a laterally extended guide attached to said tubular support, and a plate mounted for sliding movements ln saidl guide laterally of said tubular support and held from movements longitudinally of said 'tubular support and being movable transversely ofl said tubular support to open saidholes for attachment and detachment of said hangers and to close said holes to prevent detachment of said hangers from said SllPDort.

8. In a key case comprising a section of material, a tubular support attahedto one marginal portion of lsaid section and having a series, of circumferential slots each of which is provided pivotally engaging the with an enlarged hole at one end, key hangers insertable through said holes and extending fthrough' said slots and pivotally engaging the inner side of said tubular Support for swinging movements vabout the axis thereof, a laterally extended guide attached to vsaid tubular support. a plate ymounted for sliding movements in said guide laterally of said tubular support and held from movements longitudinally of said tubular support and being movable transversely of said tubular support to open said holes for attachment and detachment of said hangers and to'close said holes to prevent detachment of said hangers from said support, .aspring for holding said plate in positionto close said holes, and a manually en-v gageable part in connection with saidv plateA for moving said plate as aforesaid. f

' JAMES C..DAWSON, JR. 

